10.5 yr old boxer diminishing quickly

Question

Remington   QUESTION: Hello,

Since about July we have watched our dog go from perky, playful, happy boy to now sleeping 20+ hrs a day, no longer interested in food, drinks lots of water and now is losing his bladder when trying to get up. We had him seen by the vet in September and were told he was arthritic, and not diabetic. We started G3's (arthritic med) and pain killers. The pain killers caused bleeding in his stomach and we had to take him off of those. We are finacially not able to continue the expensive trips to the vet and maintain all the meds. He's also lost his hearing and doesn't want to be alone. Understandably!
Recently within the past couple days he's begun to lose his bladder when standing. This to us is not a good sign. Our main concern is the bladder control, the lack of interest in diet and increased thirst. What kind of home care can we give him? Or should we be letting him go? This is such a hard and confusing time.

ANSWER: My heart goes out to you and your family, and especially to Remington. This actually made me cry. I had to hug my own Boxer girl and her six, 5-week old puppies. If you were here, I would GIVE you one of them!

First, before making that God-help-us-decision, if you can afford to, take him to a Boxer-savvy vet, preferably a vet that has been established for awhile, and get a second opinion. Let him know what your vet has done and said- diagnosed.

Arthritis does not cause loss of control of bladder, even though Remington might have arthritis, but his age is the cause, I would say. It is no different than an elderly person that has incontingency problems.

Maybe the "new" vet can give you some pain pills that are different than the other vet, that won't cause side effects like the stomach bleeding. I am surprised your original vet didn't try a different one.

In the meantime, buy (I know, that word "buy") some large disposable diapers for Remington. This will help with the bladder problem, and I'm sure he wouldn't mind wearing them if they fit and are comfortable enough-- as it will keep the pee off of him, bless his heart.

Also, use a blanket under where he lays, so if the pee leaks through the disposable diaper, it catches the excess and you can wash the blanket, and replace it it with a clean one while washing. This will help too.

Give the boy unflavored baby Pediolyte (generic brand is okay) straight, or added to his water. Since you said he is not diabetic, you can encourage his water intake (getting him to drink) by adding  a little Kayro syrup to entice him. They like sweets.

If he has lost his appetite, then you might consider a better food, and also canned foods for awhile. I know this is more expensive, but I would personally put him on a KD diet, mixed with a Sensitive Stomach food.

Pet stores might have a KD dog food. KD stands for "kidney diet" and usually given to older dogs going into renal (kidney) failure.

If you blend a KD food with a "sensitive stomach" food, this might help his stomach and health, and encourage his eating.

Please keep him comfortable, make things easier on him, place the food bowl and water bowl close to him, allow him to nibble and drink while laying down on his blanket (wearing a disposable diaper) and not have to get up so much.

If he is arthritic, then getting up and walking hurts. This is why he might have lost his appetite. It hurts too much to go eat. So he doesn't.

If you have a heating pad, this also helps the pain. If it is his hips and legs, you might try using a heating pad on those areas, rotating from one side to the other to ease his pain. Warm bottle that people use to reduce swelling is good too. Same principal.

Ask the vet for some kind of med to reduce swelling of his joints that arthritis causes, as that elevates pain too.

Love him, give him all the affection that you can. Sit down by him, pet him, hug him, talk to him, even though you said he's lost his hearing, he might be able to hear certain tones and pitches, and feel vibrations. Lay your face on him and talk. Let him "feel" your voice. Cup his jaw in your hands facing you so he can see your mouth, and talk to him with love. He will learn, and probably already has, to "read" lips-- not like people, but he knows you are talking to him. And he knows love when he sees it.

Get a second opinion. If that vet has ideas and meds that won't hurt him with side effects (and ask the vet for samples as some vets will give you samples to test first before wasting your money-- and all they can say is "no" and at least you asked!)... do everything I said- and then some. Think of Remington as your elderly family member needing this special attention and needs- and use that common sense to aid him. He is no different- except being canine instead of human. The special needs and age, pain, and problems are the same.

If all else fails, and the new vet with the second opinion can't help Remington, ease his pain safely, feed him the diet I suggested, and using the blankets and diaper, putting his food and water closer...


...then it is time. And typing that made me cry- again.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you so much for all your advice! We are going to try your suggestions and oh, we'll take two puppies! ;) As you know Boxers are the best dogs ever and I can't imagine owning another breed of dog or not having a boxer in my life! They are such lovers. I know Remington reads my lips, his back end still wiggles when it can! We tell him often how much he is loved. He just needs to stop following us around! Thanks Jannie

Answer
Amanda, you are so welcomed. And I hope a new vet can help Remington with his arthritic pain safely, and that he continues to have a happy life until he is ready to cross the Rainbow Bridge.

Continue loving him and doing what ever you can to make him comfortable and life easier on him, with what short time he has with you.

You will rest assured you gave him extra quality time and love in his last days, and when ready, get another baby Boxer, and name him Remington II, or Remington, Jr. in honor of him.